LOVELIGHT by Janet Litherland
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LOVELIGHT By Janet Litherland
CAST OF CHARACTERS MARY Mother of Jesus, in middle age; Bible costume NARRATOR Modern clothing CHOIR Choir robes INSTRUMENTALIST May use piano, organ, harp, guitar, flute, oboe or whatever is available to achieve quiet beauty. VOICE OF GOD Unseen, preferably uses public address system NOTE: Selected scriptures are from the King James Version. In certain instances, the usage and punctuation were updated for clarity. SETTING AND PROPS Sanctuary is illuminated by candlelight. In addition, two candelabra, each holding seven candles, are placed right and left on platform in chancel area. Mary stands to the right of right candelabrum; Narrator stands to the left of left candelabrum. Each has a lectern for script, matches and a candle extinguisher. All seven of Mary s candles are lighted before service begins; only the center candle of Narrator s candelabrum is lighted prior to service.
Suggested music is found in most church hymnals; substitutions, of course, may be made. Printed programs would aid congregational understanding. IMAGES Dramatic art images are used as indicated in the script. Each image remains in view until succeeded by the next. # Jesus # Gethsemane # Jesus Arrested # Disciples Turn Away # Jesus Before Pilate # Golgotha PRODUCTION NOTES The hymns suggested in Lovelight have been chosen by the author to fit the particular mood or message. Any other suitable hymn may be substituted. These hymns may be found on The Cyber Hymnal (www.cyberhymnal.org) as well as in most hymn books. Hymns: God So Loved the World (From Stainer s Crucifixion) Go to Dark Gethsemane What Wondrous Love Is This? Into the Woods My Master Went (A suggested substitute: Were You There? ) Ah, Holy Jesus Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone? Depth of Mercy When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Fairest Lord Jesus
Lovelight A Tenebrae Service for Holy Week Order of Service Lovelight is based on the ancient Tenebrae, a service dating from the th century. It commemorates the suffering and death of Christ and represents the darkness that overcame the earth as God s Son was crucified. The candles symbolize Christ, the Light of the World. PRELUDE: God So Loved the World from Stainer s Crucifixion A TIME OF SILENCE *HYMN: Go to Dark Gethsemane *INVOCATION: Part. Jesus Loves in Life What Wondrous Love Is This...Choir Part. He Is Betrayed Into the Woods My Master Went...Instrumental Part. He Is Arrested Ah, Holy Jesus...Choir Part. He Is Deserted Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?...Instrumental Part. He Is Denied Depth of Mercy...Choir Part. He Is Crucified When I Survey the Wondrous Cross..Instrumental Part. Jesus Loves in Death The Seven Last Words The Promise Fairest Lord Jesus...Choir *THE LORD S PRAYER *BENEDICTION *A TIME OF SILENCE *Congregation Standing
0 (MARY s seven candles and NARRATOR s center candle are glowing. MARY, NARRATOR, INSTRUMENTALIST if other than one performing Prelude and choir enter and take places during A Time of Silence. Choir leads congregation in hymn.) NARRATOR: (Invocation) We are thankful, Father, for the ultimate sacrifice, the life of your Son, that we on earth might find life eternal. We have come to this place, where our hearts beat as one, to remember and to find forgiveness, paying homage to the one True Light that glows through the darkness of our lives. Jesus said, I am the light of the world. May he shine throughout this service. Amen. (Congregation sits.) PART JESUS LOVES IN LIFE NARRATOR: Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John :) MARY: Jesus loved as he entered Jerusalem amidst the waving palm branches and cries of Hosanna. He loved as he wept for the people, as he cleansed the temple and as he taught the lessons of Good and Evil. I know Jesus loved He was my son. As a child he was playful and energetic, yet even at the age of twelve he knew his purpose in life and began preparing himself for his Father s business. NARRATOR: Which was proclaiming the kingdom of God. And for that he got into trouble. A lot of trouble. MARY: He was a good man. He healed the sick; he gave life to the dead and sight to the blind; he fed the hungry and blessed the little children; he offered comfort and
0 friendship. And at the end, knowing what was to come, he still had compassion for those whom he knew would betray and desert him. He washed their feet Yes, even the feet of Judas Iscariot. NARRATOR: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world, through him, might be saved. (John :-) IMAGE # JESUS MARY: He was my son. (She extinguishes end candle.) NARRATOR: He is my heavenly Father. (NARRATOR lights the corresponding candle on his candelabrum.) CHOIR SINGS: What Wondrous Love Is This? PART HE IS BETRAYED NARRATOR: Thirty pieces of silver. Thirty pieces of silver! a small sum, which the chief priests and scribes were delighted to pay. Jesus of Nazareth had too much influence, too much power. Something had to be done. (Speaks out Right, over heads of congregation.) Judas Iscariot! You re a sensible man. Can t you see the ship is sinking? Why go down with it, when you can save yourself and earn a little cash at the same time? MARY: Judas was a close friend. Jesus believed in him, trusted him, chose him to be a disciple. And he was a good disciple. What happened? Was he impatient? Afraid? Selfish? Are we sometimes impatient, afraid and selfish? VOICE OF GOD: Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe
0 in God; believe also in me. In my Father s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me. Because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I give unto you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. (John :-,, -, -, ) IMAGE # GETHSEMANE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: Into the Woods My Master Went (Plays under following dialog to end of Part.) MARY: Jesus entered then the Garden of Gethsemane. With him were Peter, James and John, his friends. Yet even they would not accompany him all the way into his final agony over accepting the will of God. He had to go on alone. Sit here, he said, while I pray. NARRATOR: And he went forward a little and fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said: VOICE OF GOD: Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I
0 will, but what thou wilt. NARRATOR: And he cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter. VOICE OF GOD: Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. NARRATOR: And again he went away and prayed and spake the same words. And when he returned he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, and they knew not what to answer him. And he cometh the third time and saith unto them. VOICE OF GOD: Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough; the hour is come. Behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark :-) MARY: Then Judas came with the soldiers and offered his kiss of death Dear Jesus He was my son. (She extinguishes second candle.) NARRATOR: He is my heavenly Father. (NARRATOR lights corresponding candle.) PART HE IS ARRESTED IMAGE # JESUS ARRESTED MARY: Before Caiaphas, the high priest, my son stood tall, gathering strength from submission to God s will. He was open and honest, without guilt; he was patient. And he never once spouted shallow words of self-defense. Throughout his ordeal, Jesus remained a shining light against the encroaching darkness. NARRATOR: Will anyone here stand as a witness against this Jesus of Nazareth? Are there reasons for putting him to death? Come now, there must be someone! CHOIR: We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is
0 made with hands, and within three days I will build another temple made without hands. (Mark :) MARY: Jesus was silent. NARRATOR: Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee? MARY: But he held his peace and answered nothing. NARRATOR: Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? VOICE OF GOD: I am; and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. NARRATOR: He hath spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy, what think ye? (Mark :0-, some omissions) CHOIR: Death! He deserves to die! MARY: And some began to spit on him, others to slap and mock. Some covered his face and tugged at his garments. Still others joined, and the temperament of the crowd rose high as a fever! NARRATOR: (Pause) Mob psychology How many of us have been swept along by a mob, doing things we later regretted? things we would never have done alone shameful things. MARY: He was my son. (She extinguishes third candle.) NARRATOR: He is my heavenly Father. (Lights corresponding candle.) CHOIR SINGS: Ah, Holy Jesus PART HE IS DESERTED NARRATOR: Judas hanged himself. But what of the others Jesus friends? Where were they when he needed them? MARY: Peter, a good-hearted fisherman with outstanding
0 0 leadership ability. Jesus called him The Rock. NARRATOR: Peter stepped aside. MARY: Andrew, Peter s brother, a helpful man of quiet strength. His name means manly. NARRATOR: Andrew turned his back. MARY: James, the son of Zebedee, a fiery-tempered, zealous disciple. NARRATOR: James was silent. MARY: John, James brother. Charitable and unselfish, the disciple whom Jesus loved. NARRATOR: John closed his eyes. MARY: Philip, a practical man, yet timid and retiring. NARRATOR: Philip ran. MARY: Bartholomew, a dedicated disciple, ready to make sacrifices. NARRATOR: Bartholomew disappeared. MARY: Thomas: faithful, trustworthy, courageous. NARRATOR: Thomas fled. MARY: Matthew, a tax collector, responsible and responsive to the call of discipleship. NARRATOR: Matthew withdrew. MARY: James, the son of Alphaeus, a righteous man, a spiritual hero. NARRATOR: James quietly slipped away. MARY: Thaddaeus, One who praises. Eager to prove his love for Jesus. NARRATOR: Thaddaeus abandoned Jesus. MARY: Simon, a zealous, yet prudent, disciple. One who sought justice. NARRATOR: Simon, like the others, was nowhere to be found. MARY: All twelve disciples deserted Jesus. Why did they flee? Why did they leave him alone and unloved? IMAGE # DISCIPLES TURN AWAY
0 NARRATOR: All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah :) MARY: He was my son. (She extinguishes candle on opposite end.) NARRATOR: He is my heavenly Father. (Lights corresponding candle.) INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone? PART HE IS DENIED MARY: (Over heads of congregation) Look there in the distance is Peter, mingling with the servants of the high priest. (With hope) Could it be that Peter has not deserted? NARRATOR: And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crowed. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them; for thou art a Galilean and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And for the second time the cock crowed. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. (Mark :-)
0 MARY: Judas felt remorse and hung himself. Peter felt remorse and wept. Will the others, too, feel remorse? Perhaps this is not the end, after all, but the beginning. He was my son. (She extinguishes fifth candle.) NARRATOR: He is my heavenly Father. (Lights corresponding candle.) CHOIR SINGS: Depth of Mercy PART HE IS CRUCIFIED IMAGE # JESUS BEFORE PILATE NARRATOR: When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. (Matthew :-, -) MARY: Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with
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